Nissan chalks out holistic plan for India operations

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Last Updated: Thu, Sep 06, 2018 18:27 hrs

Chennai: Car maker Nissan Motor India Private Limited has identified its weaknesses in its Indian strategy and has chalked out a holistic plan encompassing products, people, production and technology to gain a firm ground in the Indian market, said a top company official.

"We have some weakness. We recognise that. Though Nissan started its Indian operations in 2010, the full operations were launched only in 2014," Peyman Kargar, Chairman, Nissan Africa, the Middle East and India and Senior Vice President told select media on a conference call on Thursday.

On the people side Nissan will be hiring on its own 500 technologists at its upcoming digital hub in Kerala, Kargar said.

He said the Nissan Digital Hub will focus on innovations in mobility to enhance Nissan's products worldwide and in India.

He also said another 1,000 people will be hired by the Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre (RNTBC).

"The recruitment will be over by March 2019," Kargar said.

He said in order to have manufacturing flexibility as well as offer career mobility employees of Nissan Digital Hub, RNTBC and the Renault Nissan Automotive India can be mobile between these three outfits.

"In the coming years in India, we will grow and our workforce will shift towards highly skilled jobs to lead the technological changes coming to the auto industry in India," Kargar said.

On the products side, he said the company will focus on enhancing both its brands -- Nissan and Datsun.

Kargar said Nissan will launch its sports utility vehicle (SUV) Nissan Kicks and also launch new products under Datsun brand.

"Our strategy will strengthen both our brands for our customers across India. The Nissan brand will bring the best of global Nissan products and technology to our customers in India, starting with the Nissan Kicks. For Datsun, we aim to offer compelling products across segments offering value, connectivity and Japanese engineering," he added.

He said Nissan Motor would start manufacturing its electric vehicle model Leaf in India and launch the model first in Bengaluru. Depending on the response, the production and marketing would be increased.

According to him, Nissan will double its sales and service network in three years from the current number of 270.

In order to service the dealers and be close to them, regional marketing and sales operations will be expanded.